Staples, Inc.

Maimuna Rangwala

Michael Bhaskaran

Weston Harris

Amit Kalra

Christine DeJesse

Ehsan Ardjmand

Christine Dejesse

Technology for optimizing automated inventory management is described. In an example implementation, a method, implemented using one or more computing devices, may generate unit identifier sets based on affinities between items uniquely identified by the unit identifiers, determine first and second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets, and calculate a difference between the first and the second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets. The method may further calculate an incremental carton and expense prevention opportunity (ICEPO) value for the unit identifier sets, calculate an adjusted fulfillment center stocking score using the ICEPO value and the difference between the first and the second contribution values for each of the unit identifier sets, select a subset of the unit identifier sets based on the adjusted fulfillment center stocking score, and output the subset to an inventory replenishment system that manages stocking of items.

Decision support system for optimizing the unit identifier stocking decision

An automated guided vehicle (AGV) is described. In an example implementation, the AGV may include an AGV body; one or more elevator mechanisms coupled to the AGV body; a support surface coupled to the AGV body and vertically movable along the AGV body by the one or more elevator mechanisms, the support surface supporting an object from underneath the object when the object is placed on the support surface; one or more arms coupled to the AGV body and vertically movable along the AGV body by the one or more elevator mechanisms, the one or more arms articulating to move the object from a first position of the object and place the object on the support surface; and an AGV controller configured to control one or more operations of the AGV.

Automated guided vehicle for transporting objects

In an example implementation, a smart cart system may include a cart including a frame and an item holder supported by the frame and configured to transition between an open position and a storage position that is more compact than the open position. The smart cart system may include a motivator configured to provide a motive force to the cart, a power source coupled with the motivator, and a charging interface attached to the frame of the cart and that interacts with a cart charging system of a cart storage rack to charge the power source. The smart cart system may also include a user interface device, a computing device, and a smart cart controller operable on the computing device to receive information describing an attribute of an item and provide information describing the attribute of the item for presentation by the user interface device.

Autonomous shopping cart

An automated guided vehicle (AGV) is described. In an example implementation, the AGV may include a lift platform and an AGV controller configured to control one or more operations of the AGV. The lift platform of the AGV may include a support surface adapted to contact a surface of a shelving unit and provide support from underneath the shelving unit when the support surface is in an elevated position and the shelving unit is situated on the support surface, and a lifting mechanism including motor(s) coupled to the support surface and providing a first lifting force via a first portion of the support surface and a second lifting force via a second portion of the support surface, the first lifting force and the second lifting force vertically lifting or lowering the shelving unit via the support surface based on a weight distribution of the shelving unit on the support surface.

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North Grafton, MA, United States of America

Maimuna Rangwala